Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor
Nadine Willis in a Posh Punk creation at the recently-held Caribbean Fashionweek. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
"Nadine is humble, not show-off, she is determined, she is cool and nice to be around; she's fun but a little crazy; she's compassionate and always wants to lend a hand. She's not the whore all perceive go-go dancers to be; but she is well aware that there are women who can sell themselves today and marry a millionaire tomorrow."
- Nadine
PULSE SUPERMODEL Nadine Willis has defied the odds and emerged from her inner-city background to the catwalks of the world's fashion capitals. In the process, she became the most successful Jamaican model and the first black woman to do a Gucci campaign.
Abandoned by her mother as a baby, she grabbed the reins of responsibility for herself before her teen years, worked the island's popular go-go clubs and joined the ranks of single mothers abandoned by the fathers of their children.
Her life changed drastically in 2003 when she became a top Pulse model, but she has remained true to her roots while making desperate efforts to meld into the other Jamaica. Nadine has not lost what many would see as her unrefined her edge. But the edge is a necessary tool of survival.
In a candid interview with Flair, she revealed her journey to a place where everyone now basks in her glory.
"My mother left me at my dad's gate and went to Canada when I was five. The neighbour next door rescued me for a few years till my dad who has a total of 26 children came and took me to his house. He was drunk all the time and forced me to start washing my clothes at age five," Nadine said. There were several beatings too; usually for simple things such as biting a piece of the bread she was sent to buy. There was even an incident in which she was thrown across a table and subsequently broke her arm. Scars still remain.
"My aunts took me to the Family Court because they wanted to take me overseas but that did not materialise. When money stopped coming from abroad, I began to sell downtown for my family and bag juice so that I could buy food to cook for myself," Nadine revealed , she was about 11 years old.
By age 14, she made beds at a hotel until she caught the eye of her employer who told her she could do better. She was taught to dance and learnt fast because she was ambitious. Next stop was a popular club. Seven later she moved to Gemini night club.
"I met men from all cultures and got the chance to travel to dance in: London, Germany, Poland,, Barbados, The Bahamas, Trinidad and St. Martin. There was even an offer to model in Paris once," Nadine said.
Meanwhile, her mother returned home when she was 15 and their relationship which had never been good, continued on a downward path. Her father died in 2003 before he could see her success. She met a German, Harold Berg and they dated for nine months before she became pregnant.
BABY'S BIRTH
"The birth of my baby was sweet and joyful moment because I love children, I love to be with them and to see them happy. But single motherhood has not been easy. Things were fairly good at first with the child's father and she insisted that the baby be registered in his name. Nadine told him, "Me one did not have her so you better make sure your name is on her birth certificate."
The Family Court became involved when child support ceased. According to Nadine, he said he could only afford $2,000 monthly, a far from adequate sum that has ceased entirely. She does not know where he is now since, in the first place he was a married man who totally denied the existence of a wife. He met someone else and moved on.
The last time she saw him her daughter was three years old; she's now seven. Nadine said she would have other children. because she wanted her daughter when she came along only, next time she would prefer to be married.
"All women should prepare for the unexpected from men," Nadine said in retrospect. She should have seen the signs, she admits because when she told him about it, he wanted her to have an abortion. She had very little money but the club owner was very helpful. "I was the first go-go dancer sent on three months' maternity leave."
The baby was left with her mother at first then with the same woman who took care of the model during her abandonment.
LAWYER
Nadine's daughter wants to be a lawyer and there are already early signs that she likes the runway, However, Nadine wants her to get a career. She attends one of the city's best prep schools and is good at sports. "She will have to get an education and I want to have a steady partner, a home and stable family life but nothing happens before the time," she said. "Take away the money, what is important is family, I would definitely marry tomorrow if I find the right person who will be there for me, believe in me in thick and thin. Respect is high on my list of requirements too," she said.
BIG BREAK
Nadine remained at the club for close to four years more before her big break came. She accompanied a friend to a fashion show and thought she could do what the models were doing. She approached Pulse head Kingsley Cooper who asked if she'd ever modelled before, she said no but he still gave her a card to call. That did not happen till seven months later.
"He did not sign me up immediately so I kept calling until he relented. and the rest is history. Even without formal training, things happened in a flash and overseas agents were surprised by her meteoric rise. First came London, French Vogue and the historic Gucci campaign. "It was a move from point A to the top, she told Flair.
The first time on stage in London was a complete 360-degree turn from taking off her clothes to putting on clothes for work. "I was scared and nervous and I felt my heart beating fast. I wondered about, my walk, makeup, weight and the clothes. I still get that feeling on castings and on stage. After the first time, everyone said I was good and asked if I was heading to Paris," she said.
MOVED ON
She said at that point she moved on from the whole Gemini experience. "Many of my former colleagues got good opportunities like me but some threw it away. Modelling can end for me tomorrow but it won't be the end of me, I can move on to something else. I have been getting offers for movies, television and other projects but modelling is my focus now."
PAST LIFE
Because of her past life as a go-go dancer and the perceptions that linger in the minds of men when they see her today, Flair asked Nadine what was the manner of approach by men - what they say and how, when she meets them now.
It depends on where she is was her reply. "At a party once, her guest book was signed , ' I want to make love to you', by a guest. I don't know who would dare do that but most times they will try to flirt, ask for my number or give me theirs. But I like when they do the chasing."
Also, men approach her with the preconceived notion that she is easy. She describes some as, "the bandwagon guys who want to go out with her just to make it known that they have dated her. "The funny thing is that when I was a dancer, none of these guys would talk to me, Some of them even make up stories when they don't know she's within earshot.
"Guys say negative things about me behind my back but before me it's, 'oh, my friend Nadine.' There are also those who did not speak to me at the club but are eager to do so now."
But how does she feel now in the world of uptown men who frequented the club where she danced? When eye contact is established do they send her hidden messages not to reveal their secrets in front of their wives/girlfriends who are unaware of their secret activities?
Nadine said they don't usually show it. "But it's good to know you have them in the palm of your hands because one word from me could mean trouble.
And what about the uptown women? "Even if some of them see me moving to a beat at a party, they will tell me to stop acting like a go-go dancer. They are the same ones riding on my band wagon but I have not done anything I regret."
FRIENDS
Nadine is well aware that it is hard to have genuine friends in her business but is grateful for the ones who give her encouragement and have stuck by her.
The Future
There is a movie in her future, a Banana Republic campaign and and more offers that she is taking step by step. More importantly, she is also getting her education on track.
